Legal Tender

The term legal tender can be applied to any old currency that was issued as a United States note. Legal tenders were not bank issued and not backed by gold or silver. The US initially experimented with legal tenders during the Civil War. Be sure to visit our small size legal tender and type notes pages for more information.

  • Type



Fr No.DenomTypeDateGradePrice
16$1Legal Tender1862PMG 50 $1875
FR 16 $1

Small Split noted by PMG on this broadly margined Legal with bold inks on front and back.  A pleasing AU […]

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16c$1Legal Tender1862PMG 30EPQ$1375
FR 16c $1

A desirable type note and the first Legal Tender note. A lovely and problem free example with margins all around […]

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18$1Legal Tender1869VF (small tear)$1175
FR 18 $1

This bright, mid-grade Rainbow note has vivid inks on front and back as well as pleasing margins all around.  Please […]

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36$1Legal Tender1917PMG 55 $365
FR 36 $1

A very bright Legal with margins all around.  Vivid inks on both front and back.

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39$1Legal Tender1917CH CU $565
FR 39 $1

A very bright and well centered Legal with cherry red seal and numbers.

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40$1Legal Tender1923PMG 30 $385
FR 40 $1

Broad margins all around, along with vivid red seals and numbers on this VF 30 example.

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40$1Legal Tender1923PMG 30$365
FR 40 $1

Evenly circulated example of this popular Legal.  Vivid red seal and numbers as well as balanced margins all around.

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41$2Legal Tender1862PMG 30$2165
FR 41 $2

Evenly circulated deuce with very bright colors on front and back, as well as margins all around!  PMG does note […]

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41$2Legal Tender1862PMG 30$1950
FR 41 $2

A very bright and vividly inked Legal with balanced margins all around.  Please note there is a repaired tear at […]

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60$2Legal Tender1917CH AU$495
FR 60 $2

Some of the best margins you will see on a FR 60!  Very bright with bold inks on front and […]

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60$2Legal Tender1917PMG 40EPQ$435
FR 60 $2

Margins all around on this pleasing Jefferson deuce with cherry red seal and numbers.  No hard folds visible on this […]

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69$5Legal Tender1878PMG 45$1650
FR 69 $5

A tougher 1878 $5 Legal with only 287 examples recorded in the Track & Price census.  A lovely example with […]

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72$5Legal Tender1880PCGS 55$1395
FR 72 $5

Margins all around on this bright Chief with bold red serial numbers and dark brown large seal.  Especially dark green […]

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88$5Legal Tender1907PMG 64 $1050
FR 88 $5

A lovely Woodchopper bearing the Teehee Burke signature combination.  A bright and vividly inked example with pleasing centering.

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91$5Legal Tender1907PMG 15 $235
FR 91 $5

PCBLIC Error on this Choice Fine Woodchopper.  Affordably priced.

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91$5Legal Tender1907Gem CU $965
FR 91 $5

A lovely Gem Woodchopper with bold red seals and serial numbers and dark green reverse.  Punch-thru embossing is clearly evident […]

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91$5Legal Tender1907XF$585
FR 91 $5
119$10Legal Tender1901XF$3200
FR 119 $10

A bright and nicely centered Bison note bearing Parker/Burke signatures.  This XF example has the eye appeal of higher grade […]

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122$10Legal Tender1901PMG 25EPQ$2150
FR 122 $10

A mid-grade and bright, evenly circulated Bison note.  These notes are in demand in all grades.  This Very Fine example […]

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123$10Legal Tender1923PCGS 25PPQ$4350
FR 123 $10

A well centered $10 1923 Legal “Poker Chip” with balanced margins all around.  Vivid red seals and serial numbers on […]

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136$20Legal Tender1880PMG 40$1950
FR 136 $20

A very bright Legal with bold blue serial numbers and beautiful large red spiked seal.

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147m$20Legal Tender1880PMG 40$1875
FR 147m $20

One of only 111 examples bearing the Elliott/White signature combination.  This visually pleasing XF example has balanced margins, bright paper […]

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181$100Legal Tender1880PMG 35 $26500
FR 181 $100

A pleasing example of this desirable issue with broad margins all around, bright paper, deep blue serial numbers and cherry […]

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